When Her Highness Lakshmi Bayi died,leaving a daughter and two infant sons the
elder of whom was only eighteen months old,her sister ParvathiBayi was
installed as Regent.Never did she
dream of being called upon to assume the reins of government at so early an
age as thirteen.The greatest fears
were naturally entertained by the people as to her capacity,to be soon enough followed only by the greatest
enthusiasm and admiration at the young Rani’s successful debut into public
affairs.Her natural intelligence,mild and kindly disposition added to the good
training she had received under the care of her brother-in-law, Raja Raja
Varma, enabled her to discharge her high duties with ability and tact so much
so that the regency of Parvathi Bayi is still considered one of the brightest
epochs in the history of Travancore.The
Resident Col. Munro, although relieved of his duties as Dewan, continued to
be her chief adviser, which circumstance contributed not a little to the success
of her rule.

Ministerial Changes

The
first act of the new Rani was the appointment of a Dewan.Since the death ofDevanPadmanabhan, the administration was carried
on by the Dewan Peishcar Bappu Row.Her
Highness appointed Subbien Sankaranarayana Iyen,commonly known as ‘Sanku Annavi,’ as her Dewan in 1815 A.D. But
as he was found unfit for theplace,
his services were dispensed with after ashort period of ten months,and
with the advice of the Resident one Raman Menon, a Judge of the Huzur
Court, was appointed in his stead.The
new Dewan directed his attention to improve the efficiency of the service.At the suggestion of the Resident one Captain
Gordon of the Bombay Engineers, who had already acted as Superintendent
of the Travancore Forests, was appointed Commercial Agent at Alleppey.This officer possessed special qualifications
for the post,but his proceedings
were marked by haste and arbitrariness.The Dewan had to criticise him severely for his conduct, and this
led to a misunderstanding between the Dewan and the Resident .

Dewan
Peishcar Reddy Row, one of Colonel Munro’s dependents, took advantage
of the opportunity and planned to oust Raman Menon and get the Dewanship
for himself.In this he was completely successful and Raman Menon was thereupon
appointed Fouzdar – an inferior office specially created for him in the
palace.Raman Menon was given
less pay and power but itis said
that he never entered upon his new duties but preferred retirement from
the service altogether.In Nanoo
Pillay’s Sketch we find the following:-

“RamanMenon
was an able, energetic and intelligent minister but he incurred the displeasure
of the Resident Col.Munro by
the slipshod manner in which he handled certain charges which engaged
his attention against a respectable European officer of the State.This unfortunate event resulted in his degradation to the office
of Fouzadar in the Palace whose duty it was simply to sign death
warrants on behalf of the sovereign,when criminals were sentenced tosuffer the extreme penalties of law.This transpired in the middle of the year 992(1817).”

Reddy
Row Dewan

Dewan
PeishcarReddy Row was appointed Dewan in Kanni 993
M.E. (September 1817 A.D).Having
attained the object of his ambition, he with the help of his master Col.Munro tried to distinguish himself in his new
office.Several enactments were
passed in the form of Royal Proclamations relieving the people from obnoxious
imposts and restrictions. Chief among them were:-

1.
The Christian ryots were relieved from their Oozhiyam service of
all description connected with the Hindu religious ceremonies.They were also exempted from attending to public
work on Sundays.

2.
Stamped cadjans were introduced for documents.

3.
The restriction put on the Sudras and others regarding the wearing of
gold and silver ornaments was removed.

4.
The Chetty and other castes were relieved of their poll-tax when they
were Devaswam ryots.

5.
Coffee cultivation was introduced.

6.
The Judicial Officers were prohibited from holding any kind of private
conference with the parties.

7.
The system of vaccination introduced towards the close of the last reign
was further given effect to and a goodnumber of vaccinators were entertained and the boon was widely
diffused.

Colonel Munro’s retirement

In
the middle of the year 994 M.E. (1819 A.D.),Colonel Munro retired.He
has left an imperishable name in the hearts of the Travancorepopulation for justice and probity.The most ignorant peasant or cooly in Travancoreknows the name and fame of Munrole Sahib. (The
common Folk speak of Munro as ‘Munrole’ in the vernacular- Ed.)Everything good is attributed to his
administration – not that they know it – but they believe it must be so.He worked with a single–hearted devotion to
the interests of the State.He
knew the country and admired its conservative institutions.He understood the genius of the people.He was Dewan for three years and refused to take any kind of remuneration
for his services duringthe period.The Rani offered it to him and asked the Madras Government to permit
his accepting the same,but Munro refused to take anything.He was BritishResident for ten years and these ten years were years of great activity
and progress.He gave warm support
to the Christian missions and entertained a large number of Christians
in the State service for the first time.In token of gratitude for his help the Church Mission Society called
their Kallada property ‘Munro Island’. Colonel Munro lived to a good old
age and died on the 26th January 1858 in his Scotch home.When the sad news reached India, the Travancore
Government desired to perpetuate his momory in some useful way and consulting
the wishes of his daughter put up lights in all the lakes and backwaters
of the State for the use of the travellers and called them ‘Munro Lights’.This was done by Maharajah Martanda Varma of 1036 M.E. (1860 A.D.)
(Since the time ofParvathi Bayi,the Maharajas
are referred to in common parlance by the years of their demise. Ed.)

Munro
was succeeded by Col. McDowall, who arrived in Trivandrum early in 1819
A.D., accompanied by a Mahratta Brahmin protege,Vencata Row by name.It may be remarked here that every big Anglo
Indian of those days had one or two Mahratta Brahmin dependents hanging
about him.They were the most
advanced among the south Indian Brahmins in educational qualifications
and were besides a race of pushing people characterised by great natural
sagacity and a ready capacity to adapt themselves to new political surroundings.But the leveling effect of University education so general and so
widespread in recent years has deprived them of their vantage ground which
they enjoyed in the earlier years of British rule bringing up the other
classes of Brahmins to their rank and oftentimes overtopping them.This Vencata Row knew English and he was appointed
as interpreter and agent of the Resident.As such he was able to cultivate an acquaintance at the Rani’s court.By his ability and tact he soon won promotions in the State service
and was made a Dewan Peishcar under the direct orders of the Dewan.He ingratiated himself into the good graces of the Rani and her
officers.With this object in view he repaired the buildings
connected with the Trivandrum pagoda,improved the Agrasala, made a golden Kavacham in the
shape of a coat for the idol of Sri Padmanabhaswamy, added other pretty
accessories such as a silver howdah,plated sticks or chobdars to the royal processions, etc.
andimproved the kit of the sepoys and the troops
after the Mysore fashion,and
thus soon became a favourite at court.This Vencata Row, it may be added was the paternal uncle of Rajah
Sri.Madava Row of later history.

Reddy
Row and Vencata Row

Dewan
Reddy Row who was waning fast in popularity viewed these proceedings of
the Peishcar Vencata Row with alarm.He therefore invited the Cochin Dewan Nunjappiah to Trivandrum
with the object of strengthening his own position through him.In this he completely succeeded and he soon regained the favour
of both the Rani and the Resident.The
Rani, being much pleased with Nunjappiah’s services in some important
negotiations in which she was specially interested, bestowed on him on
the 17th Karkadagam 995M.E. a tract of land in Parur to the
extent of six or seven hundred acres worth about Rs. 20,000.

Marriage ofPrincess Rugmini Bayi

Princess
Rugmini Bayi having attained the age of ten, preparations were made on
a grand scale for the celebration of her marriage (Talikettu).As she was then the only Princes in the Royal
family,the marriage festivities
were celebrated with all oriental pomp and grandeur, and were continued
for fourteen days – instead of the usual four.Prince Kerala Varma was born to her on the 18th Mithunam
1001 M.E. (1827 A.D.)

Reddy
Row resigns

In
recognition of the satisfactory arrangements he made for the Royal wedding
and for efficient services rendered in general as Dewan, Reddy Row obtained
from the Rani a jaghir of two villages in the Shencottah Taluq
viz., Sambur and Vadakara.

In
995 M.E. (1820 A.D.), Mc Dowall died and Col.Newall succeeded him as Resident.Dewan Peishcar Vencata Row who was only waiting for an opportunity
to overthrow the minister, took avantage of this gift of a jaghir and
with the help of Raman Menon worked for the Dewan’s fall.The Dewan’s acceptance of the jaghir was pointed out to the new
Resident as improper and unbecoming ofthe responsible adviser to the sovereign.The Resident was of course of the same view and after a careful
investigation called upon the Dewan to surrender the jaghir.Dewan Reddy Row resigned in disgust.

Vencata
Row becomes Dewan

In
997 M.E. (1821 A.D.), Dewan Peishcar Vencata Row was appointed Dewan.
An admirer of Col.Munro,headopted the mode of administration chalked out by him.He had an intimate knowledge of the workings
of the different departments of the State and this considerably helped
him to render his administration both vigorous and popular.His first act was the granting of a general remission of arrears
of tax, which won for him the good will of the people.He established his headquarters (Huzur Cutchery)
at Quilon.In 999 M.E. (1824 A.D.),
the Rani sanctioned the construction of two canals, one from Trivandrum
to the backwater of Kadinangulam and the other to connect the Quilon and
the Paravur backwaters, which had already been projected by Colonel Munro.The work was commenced in 1825 A.D., and completed
within three years.Several other
useful works connected with irrigation were also undertaken andduly carried out.In all this DewanVencata
Row took part and personally worked.The people still remember how he spent months on the banks of the
line of canals which he cut, living under thatched huts put up temporarily
for him.Hegave a free hearing to the grievances of all classes of people and
a particular time wasappointed
every day when he would hear petitioners on any matter and dispose of
their grievances accordingly.By
such acts he grew very popular and rose very high in the estimation of
the sovereign and the people who looked upon him as their friend.

Missionary
enterprise

It
was in the regency of this enlightened Rani that the English Missions
received substantial help.The
London Mission at Nagercoil was permanently established in 991 M.E. (1816
A.D.), a nucleus of which having been formed in Myladi some ten years
earlier by the Danish missionary M. Ringletaube.Her Highness the Rani permitted a few missionary gentlemen to live
permanently in her State and gave them liberal support.To carry on the regular mission labours a sum of Rs. 5,000 and
a large bangalow at Nagercoil were granted.Rev.C. Mead, one of the missionaries,was also appointed Judge of the Zillah Court
at Nagercoil.In 991 M.E. (1816
A.D.), sanction was given for the erection of a Protestant Church at Alleppey.The timber required for this building was granted
free of all charges and Rev. T. Norton, its Chaplain,was permitted to stay at Alleppey.Permission was also given to the Church Mission
society at Kottayam to commence its operations for bettering the condition
of the Syrians who were the oldest Christian subjects of the Rani, and
the Society began their work conjointly with the Syrian Metran.A college was opened and the Rani made a generous
grant of Rs.20,000 to purchase
gardens and paddy fields for its maintenance.Col. Munro who took a special interest in the
progress of this Mission thus referred to the event in addressing the
Madras Government on the state of Christianity in Travancore:-

“The
temporal situation of the Syrians has also been materially improved.I have frequently taken occasion to bring them to the notice of
Her highness the Ranee of Travancore; and her intelligent, liberal and
ingenious mind has always appeared to feel a deep interest in their history,
misfortunes and character. She is aware of the attention excited to their
situation in Europe and her anxiety to manifest the sincerity of her attachment
to the British nation has formed,I
believe, an additional motive for the kindness and generosity she ha uniformly
displayed towards the Syrians.She
has appointed a considerable number of them to public officesand lately presented the sum of Rs. 20,000 to the College at Kottayam,
as an endowment for its support.The
Syrians are most grateful for her goodness, and cherish in no ordinary
degree the sentiments of affection and respect towards her person,that are entertained by every class of her
subjects.”

Education of the Princes

Raja
Raja Varma, Valia Koil Tampuran and guardian,took great interest in the education of the Princes.Theywere
taught Malayalam, Sanskrit and English.Their English was placed in the hands of one T. Subba Row, familiarly
known in the country as ‘English Subba Row.’He was a native ofTanjore and was selected by Col. Munro just before his departure
in 1819 A.D. Within a couple of years Prince Rama Varma and his only brother
MartandaVarma made considerable
progress in their English studies.In
addition to this they were taught Hindustani, Persian, Telugu,Canarese and Marathi.Regarding the education of these Princes Col.
Welsh observes:-

“Being on a tour of inspection
during the month of May (1825), and stopping to pass a few days at the
Residency, with Colonel Newall, I had the opportunity of witnessing the
studies of the young Rajahs in private, and forming an estimate of their
progressive acquirements and abilities.On the morning of the16th,
at 10 o’clock, I accompanied the Colonelin his gig, without attendants, to the fort,where we were immediately conducted to a room in the palace, and
found them, with their father, their sister, her husband, and their school
master, ready to receive us.The
elder boy, now thirteen, seemed greatly improved in mind,though rather diminutive in person.He read a chapter of Malcolm’s Central India; the Governor General’s
Persian letter on the capture of Rangoon; a passage in Sanskrit; another
in Malayalam,and seemed equally
clever at each.He then took up
a book of mathematics, and selecting the 47th proposition of
Euclid, sketched the figure on a country slate; but what astonished me
most, was his telling us in English, that Geometry was derived from the
Sanskrit, which was jaw meter, to measure the earth,and that many of our mathematical terms,were also derived from the same source, such as hexagon,heptagon, octagon, decagon, duo-decagon,&c.His remarks were generally apposite but their
language inelegant, and ungrammatical.This is much to be lamented, because, with so many studies on hand,
he can never read enough of English,to correct his idiom; and the master a very clever Tanjore Brahmin,
(Subba Row who subsequently
became Dewan is the Prince’s tutor referred to here. –Ed.) could not speak it much better
than himself.His Persian was
pure and elegant; but of the other languages, (In these vernacular languages especially Telugu
Canarese, and Marathi, the Young Maharaja displayed wonderful facility
and could compose in them, his musical compositions being renowned throughout
India.A Telugu songsterwho visitedTravancore some years ago assured me that the Maharajah’s musical
compositions were sung in every village of the Telugu Districts.The Colonel’s‘promising boy’ came to be subsequently recongnised a the veriest
genius in the Travancore Royal family. Ed.) I am too ignorant to offer an opinion.This promising boy is now, I conclude, sovereign
of the finest country in India; for he was to succeed to the Musnud, the
moment he had attained his sixteenth year.The younger brother gave us various specimens of his acquirements;
somewhat inferior of course, to those of the rising sun of the country,
but still very fair.”

The
good –humoured Colonel’s diary goes on to say:-

“The
Princess, at whose wedding I was present in 1819, was grown both fat and
coarse.Their father, a very handsome man, about the middle age is their
joint guardian, with the Ranee and Resident; but has no other power or
authority,whatever.The Princess’s husband looks very much like
her younger brother; indeed, apart, I should not know the one from the
other.At noon we took our leave,
much gratified with this domestic scene.

The Nayar Brigade

After
the insurrection of 1809 the whole military force of Travancore was disbanded
with the exception of about 700 men of the first Nayar battalion and a
few mounted troops, who were retained for purposes of state and ceremony.In 1817 the Rani represented to the Resident Col. Munro her desire
to increase the strength and efficiency of the army and to have it commanded
by a European officer, as the existing force was of little use being undisciplined
and unprovided with arms.On the
strong recommendation of the Resident, the proposal was duly sanctioned
bythe Madras Government in 1818, and the Rani
was given permission to increase her force by 1,200 men.Captain McLeod of the 9th Regiment
M.N.I., who was at the time employed as Killadar of the Trivandrum Fort,
was appointed Commandant of the Nayar troops and was entrusted with the
reorganisation.The Rani accordingly
issued the following neet to the Dewan under date the 29th
Kumbham 993 M.E. (1818 A.D.):-

“As
the present strength of the Nayar Brigade has been found insufficient
to furnish the required guards for watching the Trivandrum Pagoda, Palace,
Fort, Treasury and other places, and detachments for different outstations
to keep watch at those places and escorts to accompany Us in Our occasional
tours to the north and south-east and additional guards to the Palace
&c., on the last mentioned occasions, and as inconvenience is experienced
in consequence of the said deficiency,it is Our pleasure to entertain 1,200 sepoys or twelve companies
of 100 sepoys per company and the required number of Subadars, Jamadars,
Havildars, Naicks,Pillamars &c.so as to complete two battalions.As captain Mc Leod who had been appointed to organise the present
Nayar Brigade on the same footing as other well-armed and trained military
bodies, has accordingly continued to discharge such duty, We have spoken
to that officer about Our desire to increase the strength of the Brigade
so as to complete two battalions,in
consequence of the inconvenience resulting from the present deficiency.you are hereby directed to address the necessary
communication to Capt.McLeod
with a view to collect the required number of recruits to make 1,200 sepoysfor twelve companies of 100 per company, inclusiveof the men already on the list as well as the usual number of Subadars,
Jamadars, Havildars, Naicks,Pillamars
&c., so as to complete two battalions. As captainMcLeod who had been appointed to organise the present Nayar Brigade
on the same footing as other well-armed and trained military bodies, has
accordingly continued to discharge such duty.We have spoken to that officer about Our desire to increase the
strength of the Brigade so as to complete two battalions, in consequence
of the inconvenience resulting from the present deficiency. You are hereby
directed to address the necessary communication to Capt. McLeod with a
view to collect the required number of recruits to make 1,200 sepoys for
twelve companies of 100 per company, inclusive of the men already on the
list as well as the usual number of Subadars, Jamadars, Havildars, Naicks,
Pillamars etc. so as to complete to battalions.You are at the same time authorised to make arrangements for defraying
the additional expense attendant on the above increase of force as a permanent
expenditure.”

Captain
McLeod proceeded with his work and was soon able to raise a second battalion
of troops and formed a detachment of artillery.The reorganisation was completed in 1819 and the Travancore army
then consisted of 2,100 men armed with rifles and bayonets and atroop of 50 cavalry, under the command of English officers.Two six-pounders and two nine-pounders were also added for firing
salutes, which had been discontinued since the rebellion.Thus was organised the present Nayar Brigade,
though the designation itself was given to it only in 1830 A.D.

VencataRow’s administration

With
the education of the Princes who completed their studies towards the close
of this reign, the influence ofSubba Row became very great in the palace,
and he expected to become the principal adviser and leader of the Court
when his pupil Rama Varma assumed the reins of Government.This was greatly feared by Dewan Vencata Row who saw signs of his
being overthrown and supplanted by Subba Row.This would actually have taken place had not the Rani interfered
for Dewan Vencata Row who had rendered valuable services to the State
by the introduction of several salutary reforms.The following extracts of letters to and from the Madras Government
bear ample testimony to the very able manner in which Dewan Vencata Row
discharged the duties of his high office.

Letter
from Mr. Newall, * British Resident, to the Government of Madras, dated
16th November 1824:-

“Her
Highness at all times expresses the most anxious desire for the improvement
of the condition of the inhabitants; these beneficent intentions of her
Highness the Ranee are fully executed by the exertions of Vencata Row,
the Dewan, whose zeal and ability in conducting the important affairs
committed to his charge are very conspicuous and I can with confidenceaffirm that the inhabitants of Travancore of every class and description
at present enjoy a protection, tranquility and happiness long unknown
to them.”

Again
on the 2nd December 1825, the Resident wrote:-

“Vencata
Row, the Dewan by his zeal, ability, integrity and unwearied exertions
for the interests of the Sircar and the welfare of the inhabitants, has
fully gained my confidence; I consider him a public servant of the first
order.”

The
Madras Government on the 30thDecember 1825 remarked:-

“I
am in conclusion directed to state that the Honourable the Governor in
Council regard with sentiments of the highest approbation, the vigorous
and judicious manner in which the affairs of the Travancore country continue
to be conducted and also that the very exemplary conduct of the Dewan
Vencata Row is observed with much satisfaction.”

Lastly
in his letter dated 1st May 1827, the Resident wrote to the
Dewan:-

“I
cannot leave Travancore without expressing to you the high sense which
I entertain of your merits as a public servant of the Travancore Government.The high office of Dewan which you have filled
with great credit to yourself and advantage to the interests of Travancore
for the last five years is an office of the greatest delicacy,trust and confidence; the duties of this important
station have been conducted by you with exemplary zeal, ability and unremitting
activity, and the whole tenor of your conduct has afforded me entire satisfaction.”

This
distinguished Dewan was, as already stated,the uncle of the illutrious Rajah Sir Madava
Row of our own times, who as Dewan of Travancore earned the reputation
of being the first Native Stateman in India.

Other
events of the reign

In
1818 Travancore entered into a commercial treaty with Ceylon for the supply
of Jaffna tobacco on certain terms at stated prices.In 1823 Tangasseri was leased out to the Travancore
Government for a period of twenty-four years.Tangasseri and Anjengo are two little British
possessions enclaved in Travancore territory and though many attempts
have been made to include their jurisdiction in the Native State with
which they are so entirely homogeneous, somehow all such attempts have
failed resulting in no small administrative inconvenience to Travancore
as well as to British India in more ways than one.

“Tangacherry
is an ancient settlement with an interesting history, and bears evidence
of a historic past in the ruins of an old fort and a pretty andmoss-grown cemetery.A lighthouse was recently erected at Tangacherry,
and in the event of Quilon developing into a harbar, Tangacherry would
become a most valuable possession.Anjengo
is an equally interesting survival of past days and is much better known,
for the old laterite fort, is still in a fair state of preservation, while
the names of Sterne’s Eliza (Mrs. Draper) and Orme, the historian, will
ever be associated with this relic of power once exercised by the H.E.I.
Company.”(The
Madras Mail- February 14, 1005, Ed.)

In
June1825 the Dutch factory at
Cape Comorin was handed over to the English in accordance with the treaty
concluded between Their Majesties the King of the Netherlands and the
King of Great Britan and Ireland.In
the same year the jurisdiction over the petty State ofEdappalli was transferred to Travancore.

Regency
closed and Rama Varma Crowned

In
1004 M.E. (1829 A.D.), Prince Rama Varma attained his sixteenth year and
the illustrious Rani, his aunt,who so successfully administered the kingdom in his behalf,cheerfully handed it over to him and retired
to a peaceful private life with all the honours due to a reigning sovereign.Rama Varma was crowned King amidst the great rejoicings of his
people on the 10th Medam 1004 M.E. (1829 A.D.)Both Rama Varma and his brother Martanda Varma deferred to the
Queen – mother’s opinions on all matters of importance affecting themselves
or their people.

The
Rani-Regent was an enlightened and thoughtful ruler who illumined her
reign by many humane acts of good government, the memory of which gladdened
her last days, and she used to beguile her leisure moments with narrating
her exploits as queen to the little Brahmin boys, sons of servants andfavourites, that surrounded her Court in old age.One refer with pride and satisfaction to her various acts of administration
for the amelioration of her people, one of which he remembers was a concession
to her own sex of relieving females from the burden of bearing torches
during Royal processions.She
used to tell my informant that many such acts of redress of public wrongs,
for which so much credit was taken in later days, had been either carried
out or inaugurated in her time.This
was no small achievement for a Travancore Queen to be proud of in the
twenties of the last century, when we remember that, in the early years
of the late Queen – Empress’ reign,the condition of women in England was far worse.Mr. Justin McCarthy M.P., writes:-

“In
some of the coal mines women were literally employed as beasts of burden.Where the seam of coal was too narrow to allow
them to stand upright, they had to crawl and go forward on all fours for
fourteen or sixteen hours a day,dragging
the trucks laden with coals.The
trucks were generally fastened to a chain which passed between the legs
of the unfortunate women and was then connected with a belt which was
strapped round their naked waists.Their
only clothing often consisted of an old pair of trousers made of sacking;
and they were uncovered from the waist up – uncovered, that is to say,except for the grime and filth that collected
and clotted around them.All manner
of hideous diseases were generated in these unsexed bodies.Unsexed almost literally some of them became;
for their chests were often hard andflat as those of men; and not a few of them lost all reproductive
power; a happy condition truly under the circumstances, where women who
bore children only went up to the higher air for a week during their confinement,
and were then back at their work again.It would be superfluous to say that the immorality engendered by
such a stateof things was in exact keeping with the other
evils which it brought about.Lord
Ashley had the happiness and the honour of putting a stop to this infamous
sort oflabour for ever by the
Act of 1843, which declared that, after a certain limited period, no woman
or girl whatever should be employed in mines and collieries.” (History of Our Own Times,
Vol. 1, Page 304. Ed.)

Lord
Ashley’s Act was passed some twenty years later than Rani Parvathi Bayi’s
humane reform referred to above; but the evil that Lord Ashley had to
content against was of a more serious nature and such as could only exist
in a state of high material civilisation engaged in the eager pursuit
of wealth.Such a civilisation
never perhaps existed in any part of India within historical memory.All the old Indian civilisations were in a
sense less worldly and had a touch of the philosophical and abstruse in
them, caring less for the good things of this world and more for what
would be called a vague and indefinite ‘hereafter.’

Lieut.Horsley wrote of the good Queen thus:-

“The
short reign of Letchmee Ranee terminated in 1814.This Princess left issue, but they being minors at the period of
her death, she was quietly succeeded by her sister, who, as Regent, conducted
the Government of the country with the same successful policy till the
year 1829, at which period the present Rajah + having attained his majority
was formally installed and placed on the musnud by the British Resident
Col.Morrison.” !

+Rama VarmaKulasekhara Perumal.

!Memoir
ofTravancore

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